Vehicle with speaker for outputting virtual engine sound and controlling method thereof

ABSTRACT

A vehicle and a controlling method of the same include a speaker outputting virtual engine sound integrated with a head lamp. The vehicle includes the head lamp; a head lamp case in which the head lamp is provided; and a speaker for outputting a virtual engine sound, and provided inside the head lamp case, where an internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case may increase in a direction toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where the speaker is provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This Application is a Division of application Ser. No. 17/026,891 filedon Sep. 21, 2020 which claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119 the benefit ofKorean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0020282, filed on Feb. 19, 2020,the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle configured to output virtualengine sound through a speaker and a controlling method thereof, moreparticularly, to the vehicle including a speaker integrated into a headlamp of the vehicle for outputting the virtual engine sound.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general an electric vehicle can be driven by a motor, and generateslittle noise according to a low noise characteristic of the motor.Therefore, even when the electric vehicle approaches, the noise levelmay be low; and the probability of an accident may increase becausepedestrians are not aware of the presence of the vehicle.

Accordingly, in recent years, a virtual engine sound system (VESS) thatvirtually outputs engine sound so that pedestrians can recognize anapproach of the electric power vehicle is installed in the electricpower vehicle.

However, as the existing VESS speaker is provided inside the engine roomor the bumper, acoustic energy transmission to the outside may beinefficient, and in many cases, directional control may not be possible.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a vehicle and a control method thereofincluding a speaker configured to output virtual engine sound, thespeaker being integrated with a head lamp of the vehicle.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle mayinclude a head lamp; a head lamp case in which the head lamp isprovided; and a speaker for outputting a virtual engine sound, andprovided inside the head lamp case, and an internal cross-sectional areaof the head lamp case may increase in a direction toward a front of thevehicle based on a position where the speaker is provided.

The speaker may include a vibration plate provided toward a front of thevehicle, the speaker having an area equal to the internalcross-sectional area of the head lamp case at the position where thespeaker is provided.

The vehicle may further comprise a temperature sensor configured tosense an internal temperature of the head lamp case.

The vehicle may further comprise a controller configured to control anoutput of the speaker based on the internal temperature of the head lampcase.

The controller may control the output of the speaker to be inverselyproportional to the internal temperature of the head lamp case.

The speaker may include a first speaker provided in a left head lampcase; and a second speaker provided in a right head lamp case.

The vehicle may further comprise a steering angle sensor configured tosense a rotation angle of a steering wheel; a controller configured toadjust output level and phase of each of the first speaker and thesecond speaker based on the rotation angle and a rotation direction ofthe steering wheel.

The controller may adjust an output level of the speaker correspondingto the rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speakerand the second speaker, and adjust a phase of the speaker correspondingto an anti-rotation direction of the steering wheel among the firstspeaker and the second speaker.

The controller may adjust the output level and the phase in proportionto the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a controllingmethod of a vehicle including a head lamp, a head lamp case in which thehead lamp is provided, a speaker for outputting a virtual engine soundand provided inside the head lamp case, and a temperature sensor forsensing an internal temperature of the head lamp case, the method mayinclude controlling an output of the speaker to be inverselyproportional to the internal temperature of the head lamp case.

An internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case may increase in adirection toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where thespeaker is provided.

The speaker may include a vibration plate provided toward a front of thevehicle, the speaker having an area equal to the internalcross-sectional area of the head lamp case at the position where thespeaker is provided.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a controllingmethod of a vehicle including a head lamp, a head lamp case in which thehead lamp is provided, a speaker for outputting a virtual engine soundand provided inside the head lamp case, and a steering angle sensorconfigured to sense rotation angle of the steering wheel, the method mayinclude adjusting an output level and a phase of the speaker based on arotation angle and a rotation direction of the steering angle sensor.

An internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case may increase in adirection toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where thespeaker is provided.

The speaker may include a vibration plate provided toward a front of thevehicle, the speaker having an area equal to the internalcross-sectional area of the head lamp case at the position where thespeaker is provided.

The speaker may include a first speaker provided in a left head lampcase; and a second speaker provided in a right head lamp case.

Adjusting the output level and phase of the speaker may includeadjusting an output level of the speaker corresponding to the rotationdirection of the steering wheel among the first speaker and the secondspeaker, and adjusting a phase of the speaker corresponding to ananti-rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speakerand the second speaker.

Adjusting the output level and phase of the speaker may includeadjusting the output level and the phase in proportion to the rotationangle of the steering wheel.

According to a vehicle and a controlling method according to one aspect,by including a speaker that is integrated with the head lamp and outputsa virtual engine sound, it is possible to transfer the virtual enginesound to the pedestrian more efficiently because the energy transfer ofthe virtual engine sound to the outside is efficient and the directionof the virtual engine sound can be adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplaryembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior of a vehicle according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional diagram of a head lamp unitaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a control block diagram of the vehicle according toan embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram when the head lamp unit according toan embodiment includes a temperature sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output direction from a speaker when adriving path of the vehicle is straight ahead according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining directivity according to a phasedifference between a first speaker and a second speaker according to anembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a case of compensating an output ofthe speaker based on an output of the temperature sensor in a controlmethod of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a case in which directionality of thespeaker is adjusted based on a rotation angle of a steering wheel in acontrol method of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similarterm as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such aspassenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses,trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety ofboats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles,electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-poweredvehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived fromresources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicleis a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example bothgasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly describedto the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises”or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of statedelements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, theterms “unit”, “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specificationmean units for processing at least one function and operation, and canbe implemented by hardware components or software components andcombinations thereof.

Further, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied asnon-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable mediumcontaining executable program instructions executed by a processor,controller or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, butare not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes,floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storagedevices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in networkcoupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is storedand executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or aController Area Network (CAN).

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The presentdisclosure does not describe all elements of the embodiments, andoverlaps between the general contents or the embodiments in thetechnical field to which the present invention belongs.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being“connected to” another element, it may be directly or indirectlyconnected to the other element and the “indirectly connected to”includes being connected to the other element via a wirelesscommunication network.

Throughout the specification, when a member is located “on” anothermember, this includes not only when one member is in contact withanother member but also when another member exists between the twomembers.

The terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one component fromanother component, and the component is not limited by the termsdescribed above.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the contextclearly indicates an exception.

In each step, the identification code is used for convenience ofdescription, and the identification code does not describe the order ofeach step. Each of the steps may be performed out of the stated orderunless the context clearly dictates the specific order.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will bedescribed the working principle and embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior of a vehicle according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a head lamp unit 13 for irradiating illuminationin the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 may be provided in front ofthe vehicle 1. The head lamp unit 13 may include a left head lamp unit13 a provided on the left side and a right head lamp unit 13 b providedon the right side based on a direction toward the front of the vehicle1.

The vehicle 1 may be an eco-friendly vehicle that uses electric energy,including a motor that provides power, such as an electric vehicle and ahybrid vehicle.

Accordingly, vehicle 1 may include a virtual engine sound system (VESS)when driving using a motor, and may include a speaker for outputtingvirtual engine sound. Hereinafter, a speaker for outputting a virtualengine sound will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional diagram of the head lamp unit 13according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the head lamp unit 13 according to an embodimentmay include a head lamp 101 and a head lamp case 102 on which the headlamp 101 is provided.

The head lamp case 102 may include a speaker 150 that outputs a virtualengine sound therein. That is, the speaker 150 may correspond to aspeaker for VESS, and when vehicle 1 is driven according to the power ofthe motor, may output a virtual engine sound.

As described above, the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment includesthe speaker 150 for outputting a virtual engine sound to the head lampunit 13, where the acoustic energy transmission efficiency of thevirtual engine sound can be increased as compared to a case whereimpedance is located inside a high bumper.

The speaker 150 according to an embodiment includes a vibration plate150 a provided toward the front of vehicle 1. The speaker 150 preferablyhas the same area as the internal cross-sectional area S0 of the headlamp case 102 at the position 0 where the speaker 150 is provided.Further, the speaker 150 may be arranged with a cross-sectional areahorizontal to the vibration plate 150 a.

Through this, the speaker 150 may divide the head lamp case 102 into thefront area 102 a and the rear area 102 b based on the position 0 wherethe speaker 150 is provided, and may reduce the offset between the frontwave output from the speaker 150 and forward to the front and the rearwave output from the speaker 150 and toward the rear.

Thus, the speaker 150, by providing the same cross-sectional area as theinternal cross-sectional area S₀ of the head lamp case 102 based on theposition 0 where the speaker 150 is provided, divides the head lamp case102 into a front area 102 a and a rear area 102 b. Further, by using therear area 102 b as an enclosure, it is possible to prevent acousticshortening while enhancing the bass in the virtual engine sound.

In addition, the internal cross-sectional area S of the head lamp case102 according to an embodiment may increase in the direction toward thefront of the vehicle 1 based on the position 0 where the speaker 150 isprovided.

For example, the internal cross-sectional area 51 of the head lamp case102 at a point xl located relatively close to the position 0 where thespeaker 150 is provided may be narrower than the internalcross-sectional area S2 of the head lamp case 102 at a point X2positioned relatively far from the position 0 provided.

That is, in the front region 102 a of the head lamp case 102, a taperfor a horn structure may be formed, and structures 103 a and 103 b forthe taper may be provided. However, according to an embodiment, thefront region 102 a of the head lamp case 102 may be provided in a shapeof a horn itself, and in this case, the structures 103 a and 103 b forthe taper may be omitted.

Through this, the virtual engine sound output from the speaker 150 mayhave high radiation efficiency due to the horn structure that isgradually increased in comparison with the output area of the speaker150, and finally amplified.

The structural features of the speaker 150 provided in the head lampunit 13 have been described. Hereinafter, control of the speaker 150based on an internal temperature of the head lamp unit 13 or a rotationangle of the steering wheel (not shown) will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 illustrates a control block diagram of the vehicle 1 according toan embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram when the head lampunit 13 according to an embodiment includes a temperature sensor. FIG. 5is a diagram showing an output direction from a speaker when the drivingpath of the vehicle is straight ahead according to an embodiment. FIG. 6is a diagram for explaining directivity according to a phase differencebetween a first speaker and a second speaker according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment includesa temperature sensor 110 for detecting the internal temperature of thehead lamp unit 13, a steering angle sensor 120 for detecting therotation angle of the steering wheel, a controller 130 that controls thespeaker 150 based on the internal temperature of the head lamp unit 13or the rotation angle of the steering wheel, an amplifier 140 thatsupplies current to the speaker 150 under the control of the controller130, and a speaker 150 provided in the head lamp unit 13.

In particular, the speaker 150 includes a first speaker 151 provided inthe left head lamp unit (left head lamp case) 13 a, and a second speaker153 provided on the right head lamp unit (right head lamp case) 13 b,and the first speaker 151 and the second speaker 153 may correspond tothe same type of speaker.

The temperature sensor 110 according to an embodiment is a sensor of awell-known type capable of measuring temperature, as shown in FIG. 4 ,provided inside the head lamp case 102, and can detect the internaltemperature of the head lamp case 102.

The steering angle sensor 120 according to an embodiment may be a sensorof a known type that detects a rotation angle of a steering wheel, andoutputs a value sensed by the controller 130.

The controller 130 according to an embodiment may control the amplifier140 so that the speaker 150 outputs a virtual engine sound when vehicle1 is driven based on power supplied from a motor.

The amplifier 140, under the control of the controller 130, can transmita sound signal corresponding to the virtual engine sound to the speaker150. That is, the amplifier 140 can supply a current corresponding tothe sound signal to the speaker 150.

The controller 130 according to an embodiment may control the output ofthe speaker 150 based on the internal temperature of the head lamp case102. That is, the controller 130 may adjust the amount of current outputfrom the amplifier 140 and supplied to the speaker 150 based on theoutput of the temperature sensor 110.

Specifically, the controller 130 may control the output of the speaker150 to be inversely proportional to the internal temperature of the headlamp case 102. That is, the controller 130 may increase the amount ofcurrent output from the amplifier 140 so that the output of the speaker150 increases as the internal temperature decreases, and may lower theamount of current output from the amplifier 140 so that the output ofthe speaker 150 decreases as the internal temperature increases.

In order to compensate for the physical characteristics of the soundwave transmission speed depending on the temperature, the vehicle 1according to an embodiment may provide a virtual engine sound that isnot distorted by adjusting the output of the speaker 150 even when thetemperature is changed.

In addition, the controller 130 according to an embodiment may adjustthe output level and phase of each of the first speaker 151 and thesecond speaker 153 based on the rotation angle and the rotationdirection of the steering wheel. That is, the controller 130 controlsthe amplifier 140 to adjust the current size and timing of supply toeach of the first speaker 151 and the second speaker 153 based on theoutput value of the steering angle sensor 120, thereby the output leveland phase of each of the first speaker 151 and the second speaker 153can be adjusted.

Specifically, the controller 130 adjusts the output level of the speakercorresponding to the rotation direction of the steering wheel among thefirst speaker 151 and the second speaker 153 in an increasing direction,and may adjust the phase of the speaker corresponding to the oppositedirection of the rotation direction of the steering wheel among thefirst speaker 151 and the second speaker 153 to a delayed direction.

When the vehicle 1 travels along a straight path, the virtual enginesound output from the first speaker 151 and the virtual engine soundoutput from the second speaker 153 may have the same size and the samephase. Accordingly, the final virtual engine sound 500 may face thefront corresponding to the driving direction of vehicle 1, as shown inFIG. 5 .

If the phase of the virtual engine sound output from the second speaker153 is delayed based on the phase of the virtual engine sound outputfrom the first speaker 151, the final virtual engine sound may havedirectionality to the left of the first speaker 151.

As shown in FIG. 6 , as the phase delay in the second speaker 153increases from 0 to 0.4 rad, 0.8 rad, and 1.2 rad, the final virtualengine sound may have more directivity to the left. That is, the finalvirtual engine sound may move from the 500 position to the 530 positionas the phase delay in the second speaker 153 increases.

As described above, when the vehicle 1 rotates left, the controller 130adjusts the output level of the first speaker 151 located on the left ina direction to increase and the phase of the second speaker 153 locatedon the right is delayed, thereby the controller 130 can adjust the finalvirtual engine sound is directional to the left.

Also, when the vehicle 1 rotates right, the controller 130 adjusts theoutput level of the second speaker 153 located on the right in adirection to increase and the phase of the first speaker 151 located onthe left is delayed, thereby the controller 130 can adjust the finalvirtual engine sound is directional to the right.

As described above, the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment provides avirtual engine sound to a position corresponding to a driving path ofvehicle 1 by controlling the speaker 150 so that the virtual enginesound has directionality in a rotational direction, and thereby allowspedestrians to accurately identify approach of the vehicle 1.

The controller 130 may adjust the output level and phase in proportionto the rotation angle of the steering wheel. That is, as the rotationangle of the steering wheel is increased, the controller 130 may adjustthe output level and phase of each of the steering wheels in anincreasing direction.

The controller 130 may include at least one memory in which programs forperforming the above-described operations and the operations describedbelow are stored, and at least one processor for executing the storedprograms. In the case of a plurality of memory and processors, it ispossible that they are integrated in one chip, and it is also possibleto be provided in a physically separate location.

Hereinafter, a control method of the vehicle 1 according to anembodiment will be described. The vehicle 1 according to theabove-described embodiment may be applied to the control method of thevehicle 1 described later. Therefore, the contents described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 6 are equally applicable to the control methodof the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment even if there is no specialmention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a case of compensating the output ofa speaker 150 based on the output of a temperature sensor in a controlmethod of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7 , vehicle 1 according to an embodiment may sense theinternal temperature of the head lamp case 102 (710).

That is, the controller 130 may sense the internal temperature of thehead lamp case 102 based on the output of the temperature sensor 110provided in the head lamp case 102.

The vehicle 1 according to an embodiment may control the output of thespeaker 150 to be inversely proportional to the internal temperature ofthe head lamp case 102 (720).

Specifically, the controller 130 may control the output of the speaker150 to be inversely proportional to the internal temperature of the headlamp case 102. That is, the controller 130 may increase the size ofcurrent output from the amplifier 140 so that the output of the speaker150 increases as the internal temperature decreases. Also, thecontroller 130 may decrease the size of the current output from theamplifier 140 so that the output of the speaker 150 decreases as theinternal temperature increases.

This is for compensating for the physical characteristics in which thesound wave transmission speed varies depending on the temperature, andthe vehicle 1 according to an embodiment adjusts the output of thespeaker 150 even in a situation in which the temperature varies, therebygenerating a undistorted virtual engine sound.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a case in which the directionality ofa speaker 150 is adjusted based on a rotation angle of a steering wheelin a control method of the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment maydetect the rotation angle of the steering wheel (810).

That is, the controller 130 may sense the rotation angle of the steeringwheel based on the output of the steering angle sensor 120.

The vehicle 1 according to an embodiment may be adjusted to increase theoutput level of the speaker 150 corresponding to the rotation directionof the steering wheel (820), and may adjust so that the phase of thespeaker 150 corresponding to the direction opposite to the direction ofrotation of the steering wheel is delayed (830).

That is, when the vehicle 1 rotates left, the controller 130 adjusts theoutput level of the first speaker 151 located on the left in a directionto increase and the phase of the second speaker 153 located on the rightis delayed, thereby the controller 130 can adjust the final virtualengine sound is directional to the left.

Also, when the vehicle 1 rotates right, the controller 130 adjusts theoutput level of the second speaker 153 located on the right in adirection to increase and the phase of the first speaker 151 located onthe left is delayed, thereby the controller 130 can adjust the finalvirtual engine sound is directional to the right.

At this time, the controller 130 may adjust the output level and phasein proportion to the rotation angle of the steering wheel. That is, asthe rotation angle of the steering wheel is increased, the controller130 may adjust the output level and phase of each of the steering wheelsin an increasing direction.

As described above, the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment provides avirtual engine sound to a position corresponding to a driving path ofthe vehicle 1 by controlling the speaker 150 so that the virtual enginesound has directionality in a rotational direction, and thereby allowspedestrians to accurately identify approach of the vehicle 1.

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium includes all typesof recording media storing data readable by a computer system. Examplesof the computer-readable recording medium include a Read Only Memory(ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, aflash memory, an optical data storage device, or the like.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have beenshown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope ofwhich is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle, comprising: a head lamp; a head lamp case in which the head lamp is provided; a speaker for outputting a virtual engine sound, the speaker being provided inside the head lamp case; a steering angle sensor configured to sense a rotation angle of a steering wheel; and a controller configured to control the head lamp and the speaker, wherein an internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case increases in a direction toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where the speaker is provided, wherein the speaker includes a first speaker provided in a left head lamp case and a second speaker provided in a right head lamp case, and wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an output level and a phase of each of the first speaker and the second speaker based on the rotation angle and a rotation direction of the steering wheel.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts an output level of the speaker corresponding to the rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speaker and the second speaker, and adjusts a phase of the speaker corresponding to an anti-rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speaker and the second speaker.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the controller adjusts the output level and the phase in proportion to the rotation angle of the steering wheel.
 4. A controlling method of a vehicle including a head lamp, a head lamp case in which the head lamp is provided, a speaker for outputting a virtual engine sound and provided inside the head lamp case, and a steering angle sensor configured to sense a rotation angle of a steering wheel, the method comprising: adjusting an output level and a phase of the speaker based on the rotation angle and a rotation direction of the steering wheel.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein an internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case increases in a direction toward a front of the vehicle based on a position where the speaker is provided.
 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the speaker includes a vibration plate provided toward a front of the vehicle, the speaker having an area equal to the internal cross-sectional area of the head lamp case at the position where the speaker is provided.
 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the speaker includes: a first speaker provided in a left head lamp case; and a second speaker provided in a right head lamp case.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein adjusting the output level and phase of the speaker comprises: adjusting an output level of the speaker corresponding to the rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speaker and the second speaker, and adjusting a phase of the speaker corresponding to an anti-rotation direction of the steering wheel among the first speaker and the second speaker.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein adjusting the output level and phase of the speaker comprises: adjusting the output level and the phase in proportion to the rotation angle of the steering wheel. 